just a quick [or rather, long winded] video on a few new beauty products i've hauled in over the last month or so. but be warned, there is quite a lot....
however, it was desperately needed and i've discovered some really great new products! my july favourites will be back in action and up in a week or so, so also stay tuned for that. a few of these items here may even have a little review on them so if you're into these kind of things, stay tuned!
phew! papa has been gone one full week already and i've been so busy with the wee little lad that i haven't even checked in at all. babcia is going to kill me [ha! she's been in poland for the last 2 1/2 weeks and made me promise to add pictures of jack daily. oops! sorry babcia!]
so that being said, we are doing pretty darn good over here....besides missing daddy like crazy, of course. just me and the little man holding down the fort. jack been a busy little guy too. he's rolling over like a champ and is almost mastering the art of sitting on his own. a little wobbly still, but definitely getting there. and clapping? yes, siree! the little guy is now clapping when asked! we can't wait to show daddy our hard work. super proud mama over here!
so that's the little man's update. for both daddy [of course, he's been updated hourly!] and for our travelling babcia. and this wouldn't be a fancy napkin post without a video and some photo's ;)
our little man was full of little smiles and chatter this morning. such a little sweetie. i just can't get over his little squeal. it gets especially cute around the 1:20 mark.
yes, the video moves around a bunch, but i was a little more interested in playing with jack bugg than holding still. and please forgive all the baby talk. he just seems to love the high-pitches that his raspy-voiced momma can hardly produce.
Today I wanted to share this super cool product "club" of sorts called Loose Button.
It's this cool company that Quarterly [that's 4 x a year people!] ships a pretty box [perfectly named The Luxe Box] plump full of beauty products right to your door for you to keep and try out [you can also choose Annual or Semi-annual options]. What a fun treat!
I just received my first luxe box and was immediately impressed with the products that they sent me. First of all, in my opinion, you can usually tell quality by the packing....and I have to report that I was very impressed! My items came all wrapped up in this gorgeous white box, with each product wrapped in cloth! CLOTH! Seriously, because of the packaging alone, I immediately thought what a cute gift this would be to send someone for the year......
I was also impressed with the actual products inside. Some are small tester sized, but most [and I'm not kidding here] are full to medium sized products! And these aren't your crap o' products. Nope, they are from some major brand names.....Moroccan Oil, Benefit, Stila, Cargo, Lancome, Philosophy, KMS, Laura Mercier, and Purminerals just to name a few! I also thought it was a very cool way to try out products that I've never heard of before, like the black skinny liquid eyeliner I received in my box by Eyeko.
You can watch a little video review I did showcasing each individual product below :)
**Also in my fall luxe box along with the full sized Eyeko liquid eyeliner, was a full sized China Glaze Nail polish, Benefit Stay Don't Stray eye primer, a Bamboo exfoliating pad, Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray, Vichy Dark Spot Corrector lotion samples and Madonna Truth or Dare perfume.
The luxe box costs $24 per season [so 4 times a year, as you get 4 luxe boxes a year], which includes all the products and shipping costs. Personally I think this is a great deal, because if I added up the full sized products alone, it would have cost me approx. $40!
So how do you get your hands on this? Well, first you need to request an invitation. You can do that by singing up here [trust me, it doesn't take very long to receive the invite]. Then you simply walk through all the steps and viola! Come winter [which is the next available seasonal box], your Luxe Box will be on it's way to your front door! What a fun treat! And just what this pregnant momma needed!
*Originally only offered to Canadian gals, I am happy to report that you US girls can sign up now too!
Since I have really long straight hair I've been asked time and time again how I get my natural-looking wavy hair curls and I always answer the exact same way, "Oh geez, it's ridiculously easy" and I'm not lying. It really is.
So here is my embarrassingly simple way I get my hair to have the look of those somewhat beachy, natural-looking soft waves that everyone seems to be sporting these days. An easy way to look polished without a lot of fuss.
Also, this is basically the base curls I sport before attempting any other hair style, so nail this down and you'll be laughing your way to hair heaven. Seriously, I have a million other hair styles I can show you after you get some of these curls.
So to my friend Morgan [who has been asking me forever] and although the video quality isn't great, this is for you. xo
So I'm currently on a Ferry, sailing over to Dublin. All safe and sound [hear that mom? no more worrying okay?]. And boy, this country sure is gorgeous! I've met back up with the boys and we're now on the second leg of our journey and I am completely in love. All the history. All the lush greenery. All the accents [phew!]. Lets just say the entire UK is one awesome place.
So I'll post more on Scotland [the first round of this trip] and Ireland [this round] in the next couple of days, when I can get around to a few more places and get a few more pictures for you, but in the meantime here is a video I filmed the day before I left, as May has come and gone.
May is here and that means it's time for my April favorites video.
This short and sweet post is a glimpse into what I couldn't get enough of this past month.
As I'm always looking for new products to try out, are there any products that you can't get enough of?
Please leave a comment below as I'd love to check them out.
xoxo
ps. HAVE you entered my Stella & Dotgiveaway yet?? You'd better hurry.....last day to enter is Monday, January 9th and the odds of winning are really good!
You probably have seen this, it's on like 100 blogs out there, but I literally laughed out loud this morning. And I think Husband will think it's funny too.
As with the end of every month, My November Favorites.
Korres Pomegranate Cleansing and Make up Removing Natural Face Wipes
Blistex Simple Essentials Lip balm {3 pack: Relieve, Hydrate, and Protect}
DuWop Lip gloss in Black Currant {fyi: I think this is from the iced tea line}
Goody Spin Twists {see video here for more ideas}
Babyliss Pro Tourmaline 500 Curling Iron
Tetley Specialty Tea in Black Currant
President's Choice Clear Mugs (sold at Superstore for you Canadian Folk}
Various Classic Books {from Chapters & Costco}
Thymes Candle in Frasier Fir {delicious Christmas Smell!!}
Just as the post title reads, this my friends, is my veryFirst Fancy Giveaway!!
Can I get a Whoo Hoo!!
These MAC limited edition lip glosses could be yours to keep!
Aren't they just lovely?!?!
I wanted to send a huge THANK YOU to all the Fancy Napkin readers, new and old, and I hope you enjoy this giveaway as much as I am going to enjoy giving it to one of you!
{and who doesn't enjoy a little MAC love every now and again?}
I personally think that these are the best colors out of MAC's new Holiday line in the lip gloss department {or rather Dazzleglass and Cremesheen glass lips department} and I am super excited to give this little duo away to one lucky Fancy Napkin reader!!
{and remember! you can only get these colors in a pack at Christmas!}
Here I've modelled the coral lip gloss to entice you to hopefully enter
{and not to worry, this is my OWN personal lip gloss modelled here....yours will be shiny and brand-spanking new!}
Here's what you have to do to Enter:
1. 'Follow' me on my blog {for all my current follower's, your names will be automatically entered}, and then I will do a random # draw.
***For those of you not sure how to do that, it's really easy, just click on the'Join this Site'under the FOLLOW ME section and then 'Create a new Google Account'. Then just put in your email address that you already have {it doesn't have to be a hotmail or yahoo account, just use what you have} and then pick a password, and TA-DAH!
Pretty Easy right?
I will draw the winnerMonday, December 5th. So make sure you check back here to see if you've won.
Lately I've been getting requests to explain how I do my natural smoky eye make-up.
Which I find both flattering and awkward.
Flattering because I guess it looks nice enough to ask how I do it, and awkward because I really have no idea what I'm doing.
I've mustered through my fair share of wacky clown faces throughout the years, and have found that natural is always the best. I have also learned that browns and plums work wonders for my blues, and to stay far, far away from greys or silvers {they just don't seem to work for me}.
I like to call this look my 'Date Night' eyes.
Husband gets these pretty much everytime. I might vary the amount I put on, but it's always a version of this one way or another. Maybe it's time I try something different........
Anyways, here you go friends....how I do my date night eyes.
Another Book Review.
This one for Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter.
At first I started this book with mixed feelings. I didn't know if it was based on fact or pure fiction, so after some serious searching and a few quick history lessons, I discovered that this book indeed has some facts weaved into it's fiction. See most of the characters are factual {only a few characters are fictional, and the author does a great job in giving you a character list at the beginning of the book}, with a few added characters as fiction {which the author also breaks out for you, making things easy}. This was to make the story a little more suspenseful and interesting, which plays into the fictional part.
So now that I had that all figured out, I really enjoyed reading this book. I personally love historical books that take place a long, long time ago. Historical fiction novels: Some of it based on truth, some of it made-up. I seem to romance things a little then. It makes me feel like I can actually believe the story is real and that it might just have happened exactly as the author writes it. And she did a wonderful job of placing me in the year 34 BCE {where the story starts}. The time of Cleopatra's Reign.
So here's what the story is about: Selene has grown up in a palace in Egypt with her parents, Cleopatra & Mark Anthony. She is the only daughter of the reigning queen and is spoiled beyond your imagination. When the jealous Roman Emperor Octavianus wants to rule Egypt himself, war starts. Selene faces losing everything and everyone she's ever loved. She is forced to live a new life in Octavianus's home in Rome, where she meets two very different young men. Two young men with two different possibilities and futures for her. And this book describes the path that she chooses.
Next Book on Rotation:
{a very ADULT book {sex, swearing, and some very gruesome parts}.....cannot wait!}
I missed doing a 'Favorites' for September because my Mac has decided it wants to mess with my head. And apparently it still does....see anytime I do a video, my voice doesn't want to keep up to the actual video, so I'm always a few seconds off. Probably the most frustrating thing EVER to watch.
However, I did one {a video} with the hopes that I turned into some technical geek and fixed the issue.
I didn't.
That is, I didn't turn into a geek or fix the issue {husband said the 'geek' part is still yet to be decided....}
But, the video is done and it took so long I actually had to break it into 2 videos, so that's what you get.
Watch it if you dare, but don't throw your computer across the room like I did. Trust me, that doesn't fix it either.
{part 1}
{part 2}
Products Mentioned: 1} Pantene ProV Curly Satin Hairspray
2} Hard Candy Bronzer in Tiki
3} Cover Girl Eyeshadow in Champagne
4} Maybelline Fit Blush in Light Pink
5} Sephora Professional Crease Brush
6} Benefit BadGal Lash
7} MAC Lipglass in Orange Tempera
8} China Glaze Nail polish (color unknown.....rusty red I'd describe it)
9} O.P.I. Nail polish in A Taupe the Space Needle
10} Calvin Klein 'Forbidden Euphoria' Perfume
11} Prada 'Candy' Perfume 12} Voluspa French Bourbon Vanilla Candle {Chapters}
13} Cranberry Ginger Ale {Soda} by Canada Dry
14} The Last Werewolf, by Glen Duncan (Book)
15} The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (Book)
16} The Scorch Trails , by James Dashner (Book)
17} Decorate, by Holly Becker & Joanna Copestick (Book)
18} Rust Lace Shirt at Anthropologie
19) Rose Blazer at GAP
20) Red Rust Ring at Club Monaco
21} Sparkly Necklace at Club Monaco
22} Melanie Auld Ice Drops Earrings
23} Melanie Auld Large Maia Necklace
24} Gold and Cubic Zirconia Studs at Anthropologie
25} Black and Gold Studs at Anthropologie
26) Long Gold Pendant Necklace at Banana Republic
27} Rose Gold Goddess Earrings
28} Rose Gold Anabelle Necklace
29} Black & Gold LeMode Necklace {wearing it!}
30} Navy Suede flats at Anthropologie
This post was stemmed from a conversation I had with one of my best friends {miss fiona}.....
See, she is taking a little holiday to Phoenix this Christmas, and she kindly asked me if I wanted something brought back {ha, like she needed to even ask!}, and of course this prompted the deal-seeking girl in me {american prices!!whoo hoo} to scream, "YES GOSH-DARN-YOU! I have a little list......."{okay, I don't actually have a list....}, but I did have one request.
I asked her to bring me back a pair of the original Uggs for winter. Tan, mid-calf to be exact.
Now, I do have to clarify a couple things here.... 1} I am not a student. 2} I did hold out on the Ugg bandwagon for a good 2 years when they become "the winter boot" {simply because I thought they where so ugly}. 3} I was given my first pair as a gift from Husband when he went on a boys trip to Vegas. 4} My second pair was a gift from a friend for being in her wedding {thank you Nicole} 5} I still think they are kinda Ugly....... BUT THEY ARE SO COMFY AND WARM....And I live in CANADA people!
So my third pair of Ugg boots is being brought back in that large tan colored box that I paid for.
And I am without Shame {this time around}.
Here are some other cute alternatives that I will be definitely seeking out for my Winter Shoes this 2011/12 Season {might not be able to get them all, but would be happy with any of them!}
Another book review for the author Cassandra Claire.
This is for the series called The Infernal Devices and this is Book 1 of the series, called Clockwork Angel.
Book 1 of the Infernal Devices Series
This book was wonderful to read, I adore books placed in history, even if it's just fictional. There's just something magical about reading of the way things where done back then, and imagining how I would do if I was born in that time. And this book is placed in 1858.
Book 2 of the Infernal Devices Series. To be released Dec. 6th, 2011
This is book 1 of The Internal Devices Series {there are 3 books in the series, Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess. At this time only book 1 is released}. As well, I should point out that this novel is the prequel to The Mortal Instrument series, that I did a review for previous.
Here's what Clockwork Angel is all about {without giving it all away!}:
Tessa Gray {only 16 years old} crosses the ocean from America to England in search of her brother. He is the last living relative she has and she wants to make a new life for herself there with him.
When she arrives in London, she is captured by the mysterious Dark-sisters and kept hostage. Will, a shadowhunter {part human, part angel} finds her and rescues her.
Tessa finds herself living at the Institute, a place where she can be safe while she convinces the shadowhunters to help her find her brother. They agree and a war ensues between shadowhunters and the downworlders {daemons, vampires, witches, warlocks}. Tessa also discovers a big secret about herself that is a mystery to everyone, and a secret that many want to get there hands on....
Book 3 of the Infernal Devices Series. To be released Nov. 2012
As I mentioned above, this book had me right from the beginning. There was no waiting for action here. Right off the bat Tessa is captured and forced to do things that she does not want to do. Then the handsome and dark, Will rescues her {don't we all want a handsome man to rescue us from the bad guys?} and the story goes from there.
There was never a dull moment, and at every turn a new twist unfolded. Action packed with many characters to play with. The author did a great job of writing about the slimy characters in this book too. You really find yourself upset at the cruel things that are done and you just want to right what is wrong. I enjoy when an author can play with my emotions like that.
Another part in this novel that I can't wait to find about is Tessa's mysterious power. What is she and how did she become this? What past does her mother and father have that affects this? So many unanswered questions!
Also, the book ended in utter suspense and is killing me to find out what Will is up too. I cannot wait for the 2nd book, Clockwork Prince to come out in Dec. and to find out if Tessa finally falls for Will or Jem! Or Either!! A love story if blooming and who will it be?
I will admit that this book is written for teenagers, but it's such an enjoyable read, adults can get lost in them too. It's easy, fun, and takes your mind off of the hectic day to day schedules that we have to meet. And isn't that what books are all about?
Next Book in the rotation is: Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter
As always, please leave your comments below. I love to see your opinions on the novels read, and am always looking for more suggestions on books to read! Also, sorry about the voice-over in this video. It works at the beginning and the end, but I cannot figure out why it slows in the middle! Weird! If you can help, let me know what I'm doing wrong!
